Edward Burns

Edward Burns is an acclaimed actor, writer, director and producer. His latest film, Purple Violets, debuted at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival and is the first feature film to be exclusively distributed on iTunes. The film stars Debra Messing, Patrick Wilson and Selma Blair, and marks the eighth time Burns has written, directed, produced and starred in a motion picture. In addition to One Missed Call, Burns will also be seen this January in the romantic comedy 27 Dresses, starring Katherine Heigl and James Marsden. Burns is currently creating a comic book series for Virgin Comics about gangsters in 1920s New York called Dock Wolloper, which he also plans to adapt into a feature screenplay.

Burns was praised by critics and audiences alike for his feature directing debut, The Brothers McMullen, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival. Burns wrote, directed and starred in the film, which was shot on a budget of only $25,000 and went on to gross over $10 million at the domestic box office, becoming the most profitable film of the year. The film also won Best First Feature at the 1996 Independent Spirit Awards.

Burns' second film, which he wrote, directed, produced and starred in, was the romantic comedy She's The One, with Jennifer Aniston and Cameron Diaz. Burns' additional films on which he wore multiple hats include the intimate drama No Looking Back, with Lauren Holly and Jon Bon Jovi; the romantic comedy ensemble Sidewalks of New York, featuring Heather Graham, Brittany Murphy, Rosario Dawson and Stanley Tucci; and the 1980s-set drama Ash Wednesday, which starred Burns and Elijah Wood as two New York brothers trying to escape their past.

For television, Burns and his brother Brian served as creators and executive producers of the NBC half-hour comedy The Fighting Fitzgeralds, starring Brian Dennehy.

Burns studied film at Hunter College in New York City.

Note: This profile was written in or before 2008.Read earlier biographies on this page.